The Environment

Teacher Day Time Branch TA Class

Resources needed:
• Whiteboard markers
• Environment pictures
• Scrap paper
• Environment survey
• International Climate Conference tape script and handout
• Cambridge 2 B CD

Stage: Introduction Aim: To introduce students to the topic and to start thinking about environmental
Page: issues
Time: 12 min
Method:
• The teacher will hand out a series of pictures relating to environmental issues
• In pairs or small groups the students will discuss the situation in the picture
• There are five different pictures, so the teacher will have to be mindful that this
exercise doesn’t go over time

Comments

Stage: Introduction Aim: To get the students to identify potential reasons for pollution
Page:
Time: 12 min Method:
• Following on from the previous stage, students will be asked to compare the two
cityscape pictures and told one is from China and one is from Australia.
• They will then be asked to identify potential reasons for the differences.
• The teacher can lead the discussion with the obvious reason of population
differences, but the students should also be encouraged to explore other issues such as
economics, public transport systems, cultural attitudes etc.

Comments

Stage: Present Aim: Students will familiarize themselves with futures plans and the use of “going to”
Page: Cam 2, 90
Time: 12 min Method:
• The teacher will distribute the handout provided, either to pairs or individuals.
• The teacher will then play the CD, (Cam 2 B, track 10, pg90). If there are no audio
facilities, a tape script is provided and can be read by the teacher.
• The students the listen to the CD twice and complete the exercise on the handout.
• The teacher can go over the answers on the board, or just get groups to read out what
them have, correcting in necessary.

Comments

Stage: Practice Aim: CCQ the above stage and personalize it for the students by referring to China
Page:
Time: 15 min Method:
• In small groups the students will be asked to evaluate the plans of the other countries
 at the International Climate Conference. For example the teacher will ask if the
students think that these plans would work in China.
• Students will then pretend that they are members of the Chinese group at the
conference and come up with three plans of what China is going to do to help the
environment. These plans should be different to or expand on those already suggested.

Comments

Stage: Introduction Aim: To further the introduction for the environment theme
Page:
Time: 15 min Method:
• In small groups or individually (if the number of students allows) handout the
questionnaire attached.
• Students will complete the questionnaire
• Once the survey is complete, the teacher will lead a brief discussion, paying
particular attention to the answers for question 7. These will be “brainstormed” on the
whiteboard
• Now that the students have looked at what governments can do to help the
environment, they can now look at what things they as individuals can do

Comments

Stage: Practice Aim: SWBAT use “going to” to come up with ways of improving the environment
Page:
Time: 20 min Method:
• The teacher will write on the board a substitution drill for using “going to”
Pro noun + Present aux verb + going to + base form verb
• In small groups or pairs and using some of the ideas brainstormed in the last stage,
students will be asked to write a dialogue using going to.
• The teacher will move around the room to answer any questions and to listen to
some of the dialogues when they are finished.

Comments
 Environment Survey
1. Would you swim in the rivers or lakes in your city? Why/ why not?

2. Do you only drink bottled water? Why/ Why not?

3. Describe the air in your city.

4. When you are walking on the street, do you throw rubbish in the bin or on the ground?

5. Do you have a car or do you use public transport?

6. Who is do you think makes the most of pollution in your city?

7. What are three things you could do to improve the environment you live in?
 International Climate Conference Exercise
Representatives from over 100 countries are meeting to talk about the environment. Read the
text and then listen to what the news reporter says.

Hello from the International Climate Conference. There are representatives from over 100
countries here. Yesterday we heard about plans to help the environment.

One big problem is the car. The Spanish group, for example, says it is going to…

The group from the United States says it is going to…

The Italians want to protect their historic cities. They say that many cities are going to…

The Germans want to make people use the public transport system more. They plan to…

The Japanese group says that Japan is going to…

The group from the United Kingdom is going to…

Listen again. Write about each countries plan in your table.

Country Plan

Spain

Italy

Japan

United States

Germany

United Kingdom
 International Climate Conference Tape Script
Cambridge 2, pg. 90

Hello from the International Climate Conference. There are representatives from
over 100 countries here. Yesterday we heard about plans to help the environment.

One big problem is the car. The Spanish group, for example, says it is going to
ask car companies to make smaller cars. Smaller cars, they say, use less petrol.

The group from the United States says it is going to change the type of petrol that
we use. They are going to ask oil companies to make cleaner petrol.

The groups from Italy and Germany also have plans to change the way we use
cars. The Italians want to protect their historic cities. They say that many cities
are going to stop car traffic in the city centre. The Germans want to make people
use the public transport system more. They plan to have cheaper buses and trains.

The other countries have different plans. Japan for example makes a lot of the
world’s refrigerators. The big problem is that gas in the refrigerators is bad for
the environment. The Japanese group says that Japan is going to look for a
different gas.

The group from the United Kingdom is going to recycle more paper and glass.